Food Security in the Middle East: the UK’s Agritech Solution
UK agritech is revolutionising the global industry and tackling issues from food security to water scarcity in innovative ways that are better for the planet.
The UK’s expertise in horticulture, alternative proteins, aquaculture and food waste reduction can help address these challenges in the Middle East.
Partner with the UK today.
Minimum water for a maximum harvest
UK innovation is helping farmers grow thriving plants to produce fruits and vegetables in optimal conditions, even when water is scarce. Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) solutions, such as vertical farming can produce crops with 70 to 95 per cent less water than normal cultivation, key for arid climates.
Customers in the Middle East seeking to improve food security and increase local production can benefit from these technologies including vertical farming and fog-based irrigation.
Using alternative proteins to close the loop
‘Alternative protein’ is a term used for a variety of protein derived from animal or plant cells, encompassing a wide range of products from food supplements to sustainable animal feed.
Compared to traditional proteins, alternative proteins require fewer natural resources such as arable land and water, while emitting fewer greenhouse gases, making them ideal in markets like the Middle East, where water is scarce.
Using artificial intelligence to reduce food waste
The quantity of food produced but not eaten has a negative impact on the environment. Between eight and 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is discarded. UK innovation puts AI in the kitchen to tackle this problem at the source.
Protecting the ocean to sustain healthy aquaculture
Marine populations have halved in the last four decades due to widespread overfishing. Aquaculture has been the fastest growing food production sector for more than 40 years, producing over 50 per cent of the fish consumed by humans across the world. The UK and the GCC are collaborating to build resilience against antimicrobial resistance in Gulf waters, because healthy oceans are critical to a thriving biodiversity and sustainable aquaculture.
News & events
The UAE FoodTech Challenge is a global competition seeking the world’s most innovative solutions to address food security.
Airponix, Aquagrain and Sustainable Planet are three UK agritech companies selected among the 12 global finalists.
Our specialists in the Middle East can provide free expert advice to help you find the right agritech solutions for your business.